Colombia Coffee for Clean Water 2025 Update

Currently, around 1.6 million people in rural Colombia lack access to clean, safe water. In Carmen de Nazareth, a remote community nestled in the mountains of Norte de Santander, access to safe drinking water has long been a challenge, especially for schoolchildren. But thanks to our IMPACT Beyond Flagship Program: Coffee for Clean Water – plus great collaboration between Sucafina, the Cooperativa de Caficultores del Catatumbo and Local Partners – that’s changing.

Earlier this year, a compact EKOPLANTA water treatment system was installed at the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Educational Institution, a rural school serving 300 students and 15 staff from over 10 surrounding communities. The project is part of Sucafina’s commitment to sustainable coffee-growing communities and supports the IMPACT Goal of Human rights. The installation was funded through purchases of Sucafina Originals globally. Sucafina, with roaster support, contributed $11,000 USD to the project; The school contributed an additional portion for materials and labor.  

The new system, which can process 3,000 liters of water per hour, removes heavy metals, filters and chlorinates the water, and uses UV light and ionization to ensure it meets national potable water standards. Built during the students' vacation period, the plant was installed despite heavy rains and logistical hurdles. The school contributed labor and infrastructure, demonstrating local ownership and investment in the plant’s long-term success.

Project Impact:

• Access to potable water reduces the risk of waterborne diseases, benefiting students, teachers and staff at the school;
• 10 rural communities and 300+ children have access to potable water;
• Ensuring water availability supports agricultural activities and livelihoods in the coffee-growing region;
• Training provided to school staff and parents empowers the community with knowledge on water treatment and system maintenance.

Beyond just clean water, this project is about community empowerment and further investment in our IMPACT verified supply chains. At least 36 families benefiting from the projects own farms that have achieved IMPACT verification.

School staff, teachers and parents received training on system maintenance, and the project includes a year’s supply of treatment materials and a multi-year warranty to ensure uninterrupted operation.

While an official inauguration is on hold due to security concerns in the region, the impact is already clear: healthier students, reduced risk of waterborne illness and renewed hope in a region striving to move beyond conflict. This small-scale but high-impact project illustrates how coffee can create opportunities to improve lives.

Next Steps:

• The school will manage daily operations and maintenance.
• Local partners and the supplier will provide monitoring and support.
• A community celebration will take place when conditions allow.

Sucafina’s on-the-ground partner in Colombia, Local Partners, is a Colombia-based non-profit organization that develops and implements sustainable initiatives for the coffee sector.

About Beyond Flagship projects

Beyond Flagship Projects are initiatives linked to IMPACT-verified farmer groups within Sucafina’s direct supply chains. These projects are designed to offer partners a flexible way to support IMPACT goals, create measurable impact and drive meaningful change at contribution levels below the typical minimum threshold for full project sponsorship.

Investments are made through a premium and do not need to be tied directly to coffee produced by the project’s participating farmers. Instead, support is Origin-specific – for example, purchasing Beyond Flagship contributing coffees from Colombia enables investment in Colombia-based IMPACT Beyond projects. This approach increases flexibility, expands the potential for impact at scale and supports more consistent data collection and reporting across supply chains.